Do You Suffer From This Common Type Of Wrist Pain?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
(CTS) is a very common problem and one of the leading causes of
work-related injuries. This is partially due to the advancement in
technology coupled with the dramatic increase in the pace of work
performance in recent decades (1). The carpal tunnel is a small space in
the wrist made up of wrist bones (carpal bones) and a ligament on top,
through which 9 tendons and the median nerve travel into the hand.

CTS
is often times caused by prolonged use of our hands and wrists
(repetitive stress). As a result, there is swelling of the forearm and
wrist muscle tendons inside the carpal tunnel, forcing the median nerve
upwards against the “roof” of the tunnel (the transverse carpal
ligament), pinching it. Symptoms initially include numbness or tingling,
followed later by weakness in the muscles innervated by the median
nerve. This often results in grip and pinch strength loss, the dropping
of pens, difficulty buttoning a shirt, waking up at night with numbness
in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers of the involved hand, and driving
induced numbness.

In addition to overuse, there are other causes or contributors to the onset and presence of CTS:

Age.
Our workforce is aging (2). Kaplan reported people over 50 years of age
have a greater risk at failing conservative medical treatment (3).

Gender. Women are 3 times more likely to suffer from CTS, with the peak incidence between 45 and 54 years old. (4)

Other problems/conditions.
Obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus (5 –
Atcheson, et al). Forty percent of CTS patients were reported to have a
metabolic, inflammatory, or degenerative condition that might have
caused or at least contribute to the symptoms. Moreover, the authors
point out that only 35 patients (11.8%) knew that they had any of these
conditions.

Nerve Compression. Nerve compression in the neck and/or arm above the wrist can also contribute to CTS (6).

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This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.